7 WEIGHT-LOSS WHOPPERS

7 WEIGHT-LOSS LIES: WE DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE THEM

BY MEN’S FITNESS EDITORS AND DR. CHRIS MOHR

SKIP BREAKFAST

Wrong! Skipping breakfast can only sabotage your weight-loss efforts. Guys who eat breakfast daily weight less; those who don’t eat breakfast weigh more. It’s that simple. A high-nutrient breakfast gets your body off to a good calorie-burning start. Translation: Yes to eggs. No to Egg McMuffins.

NO EATING AFTER 6PM

There’s no magic time to stop eating. Just stop eating bad food late. No one craves a spinach salad which mindlessly staring at the tube. It’s usually ice cream, chips, or other junk. Force yourself to find better snacking options.

EAT FAT FREE

You wish. You can’t take the fat out of a “fatty” food and make it healthy. If you’re buying, say, a “fat-free” biscuit, the fat may be missing, but in its place you get tons of additional carbs and sugar that are attempting to make the fake food taste real. Skip the imposters; eat a smaller portion of what your really want.

I NEED A SUPP TO LOSE WEIGHT

Supplements are just that – supplements to smart eating. There are no miracle pills, potions, creams, or even shoes that help you grow muscle or incinerate fat. The right supplement may help, but training hard and eating right are truly the only ways to get ripped.

AVOID FRUIT. IT’S FULL OF SUGAR.

Oh, please. We didn’t become a fat nation by eating too much fruit. The average American eats less than three servings of fruit or veggies each day. Study after study shows that the more fresh product you eat, the less you’ll weigh – and the better you’ll feel.

CARBS MAKE YOU FAT

Carbs aren’t all “bad.” Soda (bad) is a carbohydrate. But so is broccoli (good). To lose weight, choose the right carbs instead of focusing on overall carb intake. Enjoy veggies, fruits, and high-fibre whole grains (within reason). If you can’t resist an indulgent carb – like ice cream or pie – burn it off with exercise.

IT’S CALORIES IN, CALORIES OUT

Not exactly. Total calories do matter, but the quality of those calories is just as important. Washing down a 500-calorie cheeseburger with a 200-calorie soda is a far cry from eating the same number of calories in a handful of almonds, a piece of fruit, and some wild salmon.